Cartier Santos Galbée 187901 + Box & Papers

The Cartier Santos is derived from the Cartier Santos-Dumont, designed for Alberto Santos-Dumont. This watch was originally conceived by a legend in the watch industry, named Alain-Dominique Perrin, Cartier's CEO from 1975 to 1998. In 1978, Cartier, under the leadership of Alain-Dominique Perrin, launched the gold-steel Santos. The watch featured an integrated bracelet instead of the traditional leather strap. Cartier also added 18K gold to the case and the bracelet to give the watch an extra touch of luxury. The model was hugely popular in the 1980s.

In 1987, the Santos was completely revised, renamed, and relaunched as the Santos Galbée. The case lost its rugged appearance and received more curved and rounded lugs, making it fit better on the wrist than the previous Santos.

This vintage Cartier Santos Galbée 187901 from 1998 is in beautiful condition with its sharp case, making all the original sleek lines and curves still perfectly visible. The watch features a classic white/cream-colored dial, which adds to its timeless appeal. Additionally, this vintage Cartier Santos is equipped with the famous blue hands and blue cabochon crown. The steel-gold bracelet, which shows a slight acceptable stretch for its age, is adorned with the well-known Cartier logo on the clasp, making this watch not only an everyday classic but also a beautiful piece of jewelry!

The watch is also pleasant to use thanks to the quick-set date function! The quartz movement has recently been fully serviced. This beautiful vintage Cartier Santos Galbée 187901 comes with its box, papers, Cartier booklet, and 1 year warranty of 10 over 10.

Note: Because we have all our Cartier watches serviced at an official Cartier Service Center, it may take some time before they are available again. As a result, these watches may remain on 'coming soon' for a longer period.

What you need to know:
- Reference 187901
- Classic cream white dial
- Blue hands and cabochon crown
- Steel/gold Cartier band with slight acceptable stretch, with logo on the clasp
- Sharp 29 mm case, perfect for both ladies and gentlemen
- Delivered with Cartier box, papers, and booklet
- Clock equipped with full service
- 1 year warranty
- Free insured shipping within the EU

Cartier

In the year 1847, Louis-François Cartier took over the jewelry workshop from his master. His sons and grandsons inherited the family business over the years. They opened stores in London and New York. In 1904, the Cartier brand was even appointed by King Edward VII of the United Kingdom as "the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers." Cartier became so popular that royal commissions came in from all over the world. 

Cartier is primarily known for its jewelry, but it also has a very rich history when it comes to watchmaking. In the year 1888, Cartier began making ladies' wristwatches. At that time, it was more common for men to choose the traditional pocket watch. Louis Cartier gave a watch to a good Brazilian friend, Santos Dumont, who was an aviation pioneer, in 1904 to wear during flights because he complained about the impracticality of using a pocket watch while flying. The Cartier Santos-Dumont was not only the first watch for men but also the first true pilot's watch.

The case of the Santos was seemingly inspired by a square pocket watch that Cartier had made. The design of the dial heralds a shift towards the Art Deco style that would define the 1920s and 30s. To this day, Cartier's design is determined by this. The case was designed to be robust, and the screws that held the glass in place were meant to evoke the legs of the new Eiffel Tower. The black Roman numerals also suggest the radial design of the streets and wide boulevards of Paris.